Would it be lazy to compare Onimusha: Way of the Sword to Dark Souls?

Probably, but after seeing Capcom’s latest character action adventure in motion for approximately 20 minutes, we can’t help but sink into FromSoftware shorthand.

The reality is that the likes of Elden Ring have had such an overwhelming influence on the genre, not even this titan from the PS2 era can escape its clutches.

And so seeing the protagonist circle strafing around a target-locked adversary in a brutal dance to the death does invoke comparisons to FromSoftware’s recent string of hits, even if the developer’s ultimately going in a different direction here.

Of course, it’ll have been 20 long years since the last Onimusha proper once Way of the Sword arrives, so in some ways this strikes us as a soft series reboot.

Superhero samurai Miyamoto Musashi – based on the likeness of legendary Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune – has arrived in Kyoto to prove he has no equal when it comes to his mastery of the sword.

Equipped with a mystical Oni gauntlet, he soon assumes powers beyond a mere mortal’s capabilities – which is convenient, considering he’s up against the supernatural.

Onimusha has always fused real history with folklore, and that’s unchanged here: the Kiyomizu-dera Temple, where much of the game takes place, has been inhabited by ghoulish enemies known as Genma, and you’ll be tasked with taking them down.

This is where Capcom’s trademark gameplay fluidity comes into focus: Musashi can block at the expense of stamina, but time your defense just right and you’ll parry.

In one scene, we saw the protagonist flick a foe’s arrow into another adversary, causing mass damage. Environmental hazards, like explosives and fire, also add energy to the scuffles.

While we didn’t physically have the controller in our hands, we found the smoothness of the combat system easy to appreciate. The hero’s able to block from all directions, even behind his head, with slick animations seemingly augmenting every frame with a high level of controller response.

As is the case in past games, you can absorb souls in order to recover health, restock skills, and earn XP. However, you need to manually consume these before a Genma does, which adds a tactical element to the combat system while you consider the best order of approach.

The biggest thing we took away from the demo is just how cinematic everything is looking, in the best possible way.

One combat encounter against a rival gauntlet wielder named Sasaki Ganryu dropped our jaw, as it had a choreographed ebb-and-flow to it which looked absolutely outstanding. The RE Engine is once again really putting in some impressive work here.

Of course, beyond all of the fisticuffs, you can expect some light puzzle solving: one segment we saw involved Musashi using his Omi Vision to see hidden spiritual elements, which he needed to interact with to forge a path forward. It’s simple stuff, but we’re sure it’ll evolve over time.

Obviously, in a hands-off demo, we’re just scratching the surface of Way of the Sword here, but it all looks immaculately presented. Perhaps there are few surprises so far, but Stellar Blade proved last year that there’s more than enough room on the market for a fast and frenetic action game.

The dark fantasy art style will draw comparisons to the likes of Dark Souls, as will the way the combat is framed on the screen, but we’re expecting less wall punching and more fist pumping from this larger-than-life effort.

And honestly, after almost 20 years, we’re more than ready to step into the world of Onimusha once more.

What are your thoughts on Onimusha: Way of the Sword? Have you been waiting patiently for a new entry in this storied series? Will this be your first brush with the brand, or are you a long-time fan? Absorb our souls in the comments section below.